Shower safety comfort temperature guide

ABSTRACT

A shower safety comfort temperature guide for use with bathing showers and the like in a manner to assist an individual in prejudging the comfort zone of the water prior to bodily contact with the water, the guide intended to be attached to the shower head pipe immediately prior to the shower head in a manner to measure the temperature of the water flowing through the pipe and indicating such temperature on a color zone guide dial, the guide including a bimetallic temperature responsive element for sensing the temperature change and connected through a gear mechanism to an indicator for indicating such temperature on the dial face.

United States Patent [191 Persson [451 Dec. 9, 1975 SHOWER SAFETYCOMFORT TEMPERATURE GUIDE [22] Filed: June 26, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:483,217

[52] US. Cl. 73/343 R; 73/362.l; 116/129 F; l16/l29 S [51] Int. Cl. GOIK1/14;GO1K 5/70 [58] Field of Search..... 1l6/1l4.5, 106, 101, 129 B,116/129 E, 129 H, 129 T, 129 S, 136.5; 73/349, 362.8, 363.5, 363.7, 343R, 362.1

3,779,079 12/1973 Snook 73/3628 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS460,607 l2/1950 Italy 116/1 14.5

Primary ExaminerRichard C. Queisser Assistant Examiner-Daniel M. YasichAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Thomas H. Olson [57] ABSTRACT A shower safetycomfort temperature guide for use with bathing showers and the like in amanner to assist an individual in pre-judging the comfort zone of thewater prior to bodily contact with the water, the guide intended to beattached to the shower head pipe immediately prior to the shower head ina manner to measure the temperature of the water flowing through thepipe and indicating such temperature on a color zone guide dial, theguide including a bimetallic temperature responsive element for sensingthe temperature change and connected through a gear mechanism to anindicator for indicating such temperature on the dial face.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 3,924,468

SHOWER SAFETY COMFORT TEMPERATURE GUIDE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to temperaturemeasuring and indicating devices and more particularlt to a deviceintended for use with bathing showers to assist an individual inpre-judging the comfort of the water of the shower prior to anindividual having bodily contact with such water.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been known in the prior art toprovide temperature measuring and indicating devices for use with pipesand the like to indicate the temperature of the water standing thereonor flowing therethrough, such devices being for industrial applicationand thus overly complex and expensive both to manufacture and purchase,such devices also requiring continuous maintenance to assure theaccurate working thereof.

Accordingly, such devices have not been within reach of the normalindividual for use about the home even though such a device has longbeen needed for use with shower spray head assemblies such that anindivid ual could prejudge the water temperature of the shower prior tohaving bodily contact therewith. Many people find this sudden shock ofunexpected shower water temperature upon initial bodily contacttherewith an uncomfortable, shocking and irritating experience. Further,for some individuals, such as those of advanced age, those of young age,or handicapped persons having limited agility, such initial shock ofunexpected shower temperature may prove to be dangerous. This problem isfurther complicated in hotels, motels, and other commercialestablishments catering to individuals temporarily away from home inthat such establishments maintain large volumes of excessively hot watercirculating through the pipes with it being possible for an individualto burn or scald themselves in an attempt to prejudge water temperaturefrom a shower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the need for adevice to assist an individual in prejudging the comfort zone of watertemperature prior to bodily contact with such water in a shower, andrecognizing the deficiencies and disadvantages of presently availabletemperature measuring and indicating devices of complex and expensivestructure manufactured principally for commercial and industrial usages,the present invention provides a novel solution in the form of a showersafety comfort temperature guide device intended to be affixed to thepipe just upstream of the showerhead for sensing the temperature-of thewater in such pipe and indicating such temperature on a comfort zonedial to assist the individual in prejudging the water tempera ture priorto having to make bodily contact therewith.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a shower safetycomfort temperature guide intended for use with a showerhead in a home,hotel, motel, and the like.

A further feature of the present invention provides a shower safetycomfort temperature guide device which is relatively simple in itsconstruction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at arelatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods permitting thedevice to be retailed at a sufficiently low price to encourage itswidespread use.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a showersafety comfort temperature guide device which is of a rugged and durableconstruction, and which is of a non-complex construction requiring nocontinual maintenance such that the device may be guaranteed by themanufacturer to withstand many years of intended usage.

Still yet a further feature of the present invention provides a showersafety comfort temperature guide device which is easy to use andreliable and efficient in operation.

.Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a showersafety comfort temperature guide device which may be manufactured andinstalled as part of the original equipment of a shower spray head, orwhich is readily attached to the shower pipe immediately upstream of thespray head as an accessory item requiring no special skills, tools, orexpertise on the part of the individual making such installation.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a showersafety comfort temperature guide device wherein the dial is adjustablefor the adjustment of the comfort zone of the water.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which like reference characters areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower spray head affixed to the endof a water supply which has mounted thereon the device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device mounted on the pipe;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device mounted on the pipe witha portion of the housing broken away to illustrate interior detailsthereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the dial face with the individualsegments thereof adjusted to indicate a desired comfort zone;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the red segment of the dial face;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the green segment of the dialface; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the blue segment of the dial face.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail there is illustrated a preferred form of a shower safety comforttemperature guide device constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention and designated generally in its entirety by thereference numeral 10. The device 10 is illustrated as mounted onan'inlet water pipe 11 projecting outwardly of a shower wall 12 andhaving a conventional showerhead assembly 13 affixed to the end thereofto provide a shower spray therefrom. The device 10 is comprised of ahollow housing 14 having a clamp portion 15 and supporting therein abimetallic temperature responsive element 16 3 drivingly associated witha gear mechanism 17 for the rotation of an indicator pointer 18 about adial face 19 for indicating the general temperature of the water in pipe11 to which the device is mounted.

The housing 14 includes a vertical back surface 21 surrounded bydepending outwardly projecting circular side walls 22 defining inwardlythereof an open front hollow compartment 23. A semi-circular recess 24extends through the top portion of side walls 22 normal to the axis ofthe housing with the bottom segment 25 of such recess being opened andin communication with compartment 23. The clamp portion includes anarcuate leg member 26 having a semi-circular recess 27 extending throughthe interior thereof and complementary to recess 24, the leg 26 pivotedto the housing at one end by pivot pin 28 with the opposite endincluding fastening means 29 in the form of a threaded screw forsecuring such opposite end of the leg to the housing 14. Thecomplementary semi-circular recesses 24 and 27 define therebetween acircular recess of a diameter adapted to receive pipe 11 snugly thereinfor the mounting of the device 10 to the pipe.

Closing the open front end of compartment 23 is the dial face 19 whichconsists of three independent overlying dial segments 31, 32, and 33each having an aperture 34 extending through the axis thereof. The dialsegments are colored to indicate temperature zones of the water so as todefine a color zone guidance for use by an individual in prejudging thewater temperature, with dial segment 31 being red in color to designatehot, dial segment 32 being green in color to designate the desirable andusable comfort zone, and dial segment 33 being blue in color todesignate cold.

The dial segment 31 is of a flat circular disc configuration having asemi-circular slot 35 disposed concentric about aperture 34 and joinedin one end to a diametrically extending slot 36 opening out of theperipheral edge thereof. The dial segment 32 is of a flat circularconfiguration having the same diameter as dial segment 31 with a segment37 cut therefrom in the form of a diametric portion 37a extending fromthe peripheral edge diametrically inwardly to be joined to one end of asomewhat sinusoidal shaped line segment 37b extending at an incline toline 37a and terminating at the peripheral edge of the segment. Dialsegment 33 is of a circular flat disc configuration having the samediameter as dial segment 31 and has a cut-out portion 38 removedtherefrom approximately equal to half of the area of the dial segmentand including a diametric line 38a extending from a peripheral edgediametrically inwardly toward aperture 34 and terminating a radialdistance outwardly therefrom and joined to one end of a somewhatsinusoidal edge 38b extending about aperture 34 and terminating at aperipheral edge of the dial segment which is diametrically opposed fromthe edge 38.

The dial segments 31, 32 and 33 are disposed in overlying position withdial segment 33 overlying dial segment 32 which, in turn, overlies dialsegment 31, the assembly of dial segments being received about theirperipheral edges in an annular groove 40 formed in housing 14 about theopen front end of compartment 23, with the dial segments beingadjustable on each other by rotation about the axis of apertures 34, andwith the adjusted positions of the dial segments being retained by adial lock screw 41 threadedly received in a side wall 22 of housing 14in a manner to engage the dial segments to retain their relativeadjusted positions.

Alternatively, dial lock screw 41 may be of a type inserted directlythrough the dial face 19, such as through slot 36, in a manner to retainthe selected relative positions of the dial segments.

Disposed immediately rearward and in juxtaposition with the back surfaceof dial segment and extending diametrically vertically between annularslot 40 is a flat supporting bar structure 42 having a central apertureextending therethrough in alignment with apertures 34.

The bimetallic temperature responsive element 16 is formed of abimetallic strip of material disposed in compartment 23 and extendingfrom the top end thereof downwardly part the center of the compartmentand to one side of the axis of the compartment, the strip having one end45 of an arcuate shape received in an arcuate saddle socket 46 formedinwardly of and adjacent to slot 25 of recess 24 such that the strip endportion 45 is in a heat conducting relationship to the exterior of thepipe 11. The other end 47 of the element 16 is, of course, left free formovement in the compartment 23 as the element moves forwardly orrearwardly of the compartment due to expansion and contraction of thematerials making up the element and the response of such materials tothermo changes experienced by the element due to its contact with pipe11. An actuation cam pin 48 is affixed to element end 47 and extendstransversely out therefrom, the use thereof which will be laterdescribed.

The gear mechanism 17 consists of an axially extending shaft 51rotatably supported at one end to housing back surface 21 with its frontend portion extending through the central aperture of support bar 42 andthence through aligned apertures 34 to have the indicator pointerelement 18 affixed to the front end thereof and movable therewith. Acircular gear 52 is permanently affixed concentrically to shaft 51rearwardly of bar 42 and in compartment 23. A second circular gear 53 ismounted parallel to gear 52 and in intermeshing engagement therewith,the gear 53 being supported for rotation on a shaft 54 which has itsopposite ends journaled for rotation in housing back surface 21 andsupport bar 42 respectively. A cylindrical collar member 55 is disposedconcentric with shaft 54 and has one end affixed to gear 53 with thecollar extending rearwardly therefrom, the collar having cylindricalside walls 56 with the portion of the side wall nearest the end 47 ofbimetallic element 16 having formed integrally therein a diagonal slot57 defining a cam follower slot adapted to receive therein theprojecting free end of actuation cam pin 48. The gear 53 is of a muchlarger diameter than the gear 52 such that it only requires betweenonequarter and one-third of rotation of gear 53 to effect almostcomplete rotation of gear 52, the rotation of gear 52 effecting thesweeping movement of pointer 18 about dial face 19.

As seen in FIG. 4, movement of element 16 in a direction forwardly ofcompartment 23 effects the camming action of pin 48 in slot 57 to effectclockwise movement of gear 53, this in turn effecting counterclockwisemovement of gear 52. Similarly, movement of element end 57 rearwardly ofcompartment 23 effects the camming of gear 53 in a counter-clockwisedirection with gear 52 thus moving in a clockwise direction. In thismanner the pointer 18 is moved in response to movement of element 16which, in turn, is responsive to temperature changes as measured at pipe1 l.

The dial face 19 and indicator 18 is covered by a transparent facemember 60 which has its peripheral edges preferably secured in theannular slot 40.

In operation, the device is preferably installed at a point slightlyupstream of the showerhead on the showerhead pipe with the dial face inview of an individual who may operate the hot and cold water controls ofthe shower at a position safely apart from the shower spray. To obtainthe desired temperature the individual user manipulates the hot and coldwater valve so as to add more or less hot or cold water as is necessaryto obtain the required temperature which is designated by the greencomfort zone dial segment 32 on the dial face 19. This comfort zone ispreferably preset at the factory with the use of the dial lock 41permitting an individual to readjust the dial segments to achieve theindication of the desired comfort zone.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, andthat this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement ofparts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in thisspecification as various changes in the details of construction as toshape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novelconcepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A shower safetycomfort temperature guide device intended for indicating the temperatureof water within a tubular pipeline supplying a showerhead assembly, thedevice comprising:

a hollow housing;

a clamp pivotally affixed to said housing for detachably affixing saidhousing to said tubular pipe;

a bimetallic temperature responsive element mounted in said hollowhousing, said element having one end thereof secured inside saidhousing, said one end having a substantial area adjacent said clamp forafiording a heat conducting relationship between said tubular pipe andsaid one end when said housing is clamped to said pipe, the opposite endof said element projecting interiorly of said housing and being a freeend movable in said housing in response to temperature changes of saidelement;

a dial face affixed to said housing and having temperature comfort zoneindicating means thereon, said housing defining an opening for afiordingvisual access to said dial face;

a pointer member and a shaft for rotatably mounting said pointer memberadjacent said dial for sweeping rotative movement thereover to designatetemperature indicating portions of said dial, said dial being visiblethrough said opening; a motion transmitting member operatively connectedto said pointer for rotation therewith, means operatively connected tosaid free end of said bimetallic element and responsive to movement ofsaid bimetallic element for coacting with said motion transmittingmember such that movement of said bimetallic element is transmittedthrough said motion transmitting member and said coacting means toeffect movement of said pointer member for providing visual indicationof the temperature of said element which, in turn, is an indication ofthe temperature of the water flowing through said pipe when said housingis mounted to said pipe.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has avertical back wall, depending horizontally extending side walls, a topportion, a bottom portion, and a front end, a compartment definedinteriorly thereof and opening out of said front end, said top portionhaving a recess extending transversely therethrough with the recessbeing of a semi-circular crosssection adapted to receive a portion ofsaid tubular pipe resting therein, a slot defined along the bottom ofsaid recess in communication with said compartment, said temperatureelement being disposed in said slot; and wherein said clamp comprises aleg member extending between the front and back ends of said housing,said leg member pivotally affixed at one end to said housing, theopposite end of said leg member adapted to be removably fastened to theopposite end of said housing, a recess extending transversely through abottom surface of said leg member having a semi-circular cross-sectioncomplementary to the recess in said housing and adapted to formtherewith a transversely extending slot of a circular cross-section toreceive said tubular pipe therein when said leg member is affixed tosaid housing.

'3. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bimetallic strip isof a flat configuration having a top end bent into an arcuate form, saidtop end affixed in said compartment adjacent said slot in said housingrecess for saddle type engagement with said tubular pipe when rested insaid recess, said element strip projecting into said compartment withsaid free end thereof movable in a direction toward and away from saidfront and back ends of said compartment in response to temperaturechanges of said element.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shaft constitutes afirst shaft extending axially through said housing and having one endjournaled for rotation in a back surface of said housing and having itsopposite end projecting through said dial face and supported forrotation therein, said motion transmitting member including a first gearaffixed to said first shaft concentric therewith, a second circular geardisposed substantially parallel to said first gear and in meshingengagement therewith, and a second shaft extending parallel to saidfirst shaft axially through said second gear for rotatably supportingsaid second gear thereon, said coacting means including a cylindricalcollar member disposed concentric with said second gear and extendingoutwardly therefrom along said second shaft, a diagonal slot extendingalong the circumference of said cylindrical collar member and defining acam follower slot, and an actuation cam pin affixed to said free end ofsaid bimetallic element and projecting into said cam follower slotwhereby movement of said element free end forwardly of said compartmentwill effect rotation of said gear assembly in a first direction, andmovement of said element free end in a direction toward said back end ofsaid compartment will effect movement of said gears in an oppositedirection.

5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pointer member isaffixed to said projecting front end of said first shaft for rotationtherewith.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said dial is comprised ofat least three dial segments, each dial segment being of a fiatconfiguration having an aperture extending centrally therethrough, afirst dial segment being of a circular disc configuration and coloredred and mounted in said front end of said housing closing saidcompartment, a second dial segment being colored green and of a flatdisc like configuration having a cut-out portion and adapted to bemounted in juxtaposition with said first dial segment with said cut-outportion permitting exterior viewing of a portion of said first dialsegment therethrough, and a third dial segment of a flat circularconfiguration having at least one-half of its cross-sectional arearemoved in the form of a cutout portion to expose a portion of saidsecond dial segment when said third dial segment is mounted injuxtaposition thereover, said third dial segment being colored blue; anda dial lock screw associated with said dial segments for retaining saiddial segments in an adjusted position relative to each other.

7. The device as set forth in claiml wherein said dial face includes atleast first and second planar dial segments disposed in overlyingrelation and having contrasting colors, said first dial segments havinga diametrically extending slot therein, said second segment having asector shaped excision bounded by a generally radially extending edge,said second segment being disposed in said slot so that a portion ofsaid second segment is obscured by said first segment and anotherportion of said second segment is visible through said opening so thatsaid edge defines a boundary between said segments.

8. The device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pointer has acircumferential extent of at least about 18 to afford visibility thereofunder impaired conditions and wherein said segment edge is of sinusoidalshape having a peak and a valley that are circumferentially spaced fromone another by an amount exceeding the circumferential extent of saidpointer so as to afford a continuous indication of the position of saidpointer relative said segments.

1. A shower safety comfort temperature guide device intended forindicating the temperature of water within a tubular pipeline supplyinga showerhead assembly, the device comprising: a hollow housing; a clamppivotally affixed to said housing for detachably affixing said housingto said tubular pipe; a bimetallic temperature responsive elementmounted in said hollow housing, said element having one end thereofsecured inside said housing, said one end having a substantial areaadjacent said clamp for affording a heat conducting relationship betweensaid tubular pipe and said one end when said housing is clamped to saidpipe, the opposite end of said element projecting interiorly of saidhousing and being a free end movable in said housing in response totemperature changes of said element; a dial face affixed to said housingand having temperature comfort zone indicating means thereon, saidhousing defining an opening for affording visual access to said dialface; a pointer member and a shaft for rotatably mounting said pointermember adjacent said dial for sweeping rotative movement thereover todesignate temperature indicating portions of said dial, said dial beingvisible through said opening; a motion transmitting member operativelyconnected to said pointer for rotation therewith, means operativelyconnected to said free end of said bimetallic element and responsive tomovement of said bimetallic element for coacting with said motiontransmitting member such that movement of said bimetallic element istransmitted through said motion transmitting member and said coactingmeans to effect movement of said pointer member for providing visualindication of the temperature of said element which, in turn, is anindication of the temperature of the water flowing through said pipewhen said housing is mounted to said pipe.
 2. The device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said housing has a vertical back wall, dependinghorizontally extending side walls, a top portion, a bottom portion, anda front end, a compartment defined interiorly thereof and opening out ofsaid front end, said top portion having a recess extending transverselytherethrough with the recess being of a semi-circular cross-sectionadapted to receive a portion of said tubular pipe resting therein, aslot defined along the bottom of said recess in communication with saidcompartment, said temperature element being disposed in said slot; andwherein said clamp comprises a leg member extending between the frontand back ends of said housing, said leg member pivotally affixed at oneend to said housing, the opposite end of said leg member adapted to beremovably fastened to the opposite end of said housing, a recessextending transversely through a bottom surface of said leg memberhaving a semi-circular cross-section complementary to the recess in saidhousing and adapted to form therewith a transversely extending slot of acircular cross-section to receive said tubular pipe therein when saidleg member is affixed to said housing.
 3. The device as set forth inclaim 2 wherein said bimetallic strip is of a flat configuration havinga top end bent into an arcuate form, said top end affixed in saidcompartment adjacent said slot in said housing recess for saddle typeengagement with said tubular pipe when rested in said recess, saidelement strip projecting into said compartment with said free endthereof movable in a direction toward and away from said front and backends of said compartment in response to temperature changes of saidelement.
 4. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shaftconstitutes a first shaft extending axially through said housing andhaving one end journaled for rotation in a back surface of said housingand having its opposite end projecting through said dial face anDsupported for rotation therein, said motion transmitting memberincluding a first gear affixed to said first shaft concentric therewith,a second circular gear disposed substantially parallel to said firstgear and in meshing engagement therewith, and a second shaft extendingparallel to said first shaft axially through said second gear forrotatably supporting said second gear thereon, said coacting meansincluding a cylindrical collar member disposed concentric with saidsecond gear and extending outwardly therefrom along said second shaft, adiagonal slot extending along the circumference of said cylindricalcollar member and defining a cam follower slot, and an actuation cam pinaffixed to said free end of said bimetallic element and projecting intosaid cam follower slot whereby movement of said element free endforwardly of said compartment will effect rotation of said gear assemblyin a first direction, and movement of said element free end in adirection toward said back end of said compartment will effect movementof said gears in an opposite direction.
 5. The device as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said pointer member is affixed to said projecting frontend of said first shaft for rotation therewith.
 6. The device as setforth in claim 5 wherein said dial is comprised of at least three dialsegments, each dial segment being of a flat configuration having anaperture extending centrally therethrough, a first dial segment being ofa circular disc configuration and colored red and mounted in said frontend of said housing closing said compartment, a second dial segmentbeing colored green and of a flat disc like configuration having acut-out portion and adapted to be mounted in juxtaposition with saidfirst dial segment with said cut-out portion permitting exterior viewingof a portion of said first dial segment therethrough, and a third dialsegment of a flat circular configuration having at least one-half of itscross-sectional area removed in the form of a cut-out portion to exposea portion of said second dial segment when said third dial segment ismounted in juxtaposition thereover, said third dial segment beingcolored blue; and a dial lock screw associated with said dial segmentsfor retaining said dial segments in an adjusted position relative toeach other.
 7. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dial faceincludes at least first and second planar dial segments disposed inoverlying relation and having contrasting colors, said first dialsegments having a diametrically extending slot therein, said secondsegment having a sector shaped excision bounded by a generally radiallyextending edge, said second segment being disposed in said slot so thata portion of said second segment is obscured by said first segment andanother portion of said second segment is visible through said openingso that said edge defines a boundary between said segments.
 8. Thedevice as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pointer has acircumferential extent of at least about 18* to afford visibilitythereof under impaired conditions and wherein said segment edge is ofsinusoidal shape having a peak and a valley that are circumferentiallyspaced from one another by an amount exceeding the circumferentialextent of said pointer so as to afford a continuous indication of theposition of said pointer relative said segments.